Flaky Japanese Ice Cream?

Question

I visited the Lapia Mall in Hachinohe, Japan this afternoon and ordered what I thought was regular ice cream. To my surprise, upon sticking my spoon in the scoop, it crumbled into little flakes. I have just moved here and speak very little Japanese, so I was unable to ask what it was. It tasted like ice cream. Is it? How is it made? I have tried Googling what I can on this, but haven't found much. I took a photo of it if that is of any help: http://melandmatt.net/gallery/v/MelandMatt--2008/LapiaMall/DSC03217.JPG.html

Thanks!

Answer 1

It's sort of like an American sno-cone.  It's flavored with a milk syrup and sprinkle with cocoa and whatever.

Answer 2

I searched the web.

I think the frozen dessert you bought is called "Kita No Watayuki".

The website says "It is a new kind of SWEETS" "It's milky but not too sweet and not too rich" "Not too cold like shaved ice" etc.

When I make ice cream in hot summer days at home, I use milk instead of cream and less mixing during the freezing process to get the flaky texture so maybe they are doing the same. I think the water content in the milk makes the shaved ice like flaky texture as well.

Hope you are having a wonderful time in Japan.

All the best!

Answer 3

The picture resembles shaved ice-cream or kakigouri (かきごうり） and is pretty common.

Answer 4

I think its shaved ice cream. A huge block of quasi-ice cream substance is run through a shaver and voila, shaved ice cream. I love this but haven't eaten it in 10 years..